Craftsman in \"The Troubled Craftsman,\"

Craftsman

In "The Troubled Craftsman," Richard Sennett describes the term "craftsman," evaluating its historical and current contexts. The author notes, "At different moments in Western history practical activity has been demeaned, divorced from supposedly higher pursuits," (p. 21). Sennett makes an interesting point of describing the changing role of the craftsman/artisan. In ancient Greece, the distinction between an "architect" and an "artisan" was first articulated by Aristotle (Sennett p. 23). This distinction meant that architects were considered of a higher social class than artisans/craftsmen. A similar distinction exists today, as an architect will indeed make more money than a draftsman. These hierarchical distinctions can be seen in almost every profession. Anything that is done with the hands is considered less important than activities that are done with the mind alone.

Craftsmanship is also defined by an impersonality, as the job is about the finished product and not the personality that produced it. An architect in Aristotle's view of the term can be more personality-driven. Sennett then attempts to revive the term craftsman by applying it to modern professions that rely on digital technology such as computer programming. The term craftsman has evolved once again to embrace the high level of skills required to complete a task.

In one passage of the essay, Sennett describes the way craftsmen are challenged both to produce something that is technically perfect but which is also highly practical. The section called "Conflicting Standards: Correct vs. Practical" refers to the difference between "correctness and functionality" in the craftsman's work (p. 45). Sennett goes on to say, "To the absolutist in every craftsman, each imperfection is a failure; to the practitioner, obsession with perfection seems a prescription for failure." The craftsman in any field, whether computer programming or architecture, aims for an ideal balance between perfection and functionality. This concept draws upon what Appiah stated regarding the impact of globalization on the authenticity of form and function.

Sennett's analysis of craftsmanship can be applied to almost any modern profession. The particular passage about conflicting standards is evident in so many of the daily objects we use. One profession in which the conflicting standards of correct vs. practical are played out daily is cooking. The Food Network has done a good job of showing viewers what is required of chefs, which are easily considered craftspeople. Chefs are often pressured to create perfectly executed plates that are as visually stunning as they are tasty. Yet those chefs are also pressured to perform under serious time constraints. This means that at the end of a competition or a day on the job, the chef must at the very least produce a plate of food for the guests.